KB Securities’ Major Shareholding in NewJeansOn: What Happened on the Day?
On July 16, 2025, KB Securities reported a major shareholding of 5.21% in NewJeansOn. This stake was acquired through the purchase of newly listed shares and convertible bonds on July 9, with the stated purpose being simple investment. However, contrary to expectations, the stock price, which stood at 13,430 KRW just before the report, dropped to 12,710 KRW immediately after, surprising the market.
NewJeansOn’s Struggles: An Analysis of 2024 Fundamental Performance
Even before KB Securities’ announcement, NewJeansOn’s financial performance had been weak. The 2024 audited financial statements revealed a significant decline in operating and net income, despite an increase in revenue.
- Soaring Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expenses: An increase in SG&A expenses to approximately 23.3 billion KRW severely impacted profitability. While potential reasons include changes in sales strategy or increased operational costs, specific causal factors require further investigation.
- Rising Financial Costs: The impact of a high-interest-rate environment led to a rise in financial costs by approximately 1.9 billion KRW, adding to the company’s burden.
- Adverse Macroeconomic Factors: The appreciation of the KRW/USD exchange rate and the rise in crude oil prices likely contributed to increased costs and reduced profitability for NewJeansOn, a company reliant on imported raw materials.
- Limited Impact of Business Restructuring: While business restructuring efforts, such as the liquidation of NewJeansOn Global Co., Ltd., were undertaken, their impact on current financial performance was limited.
- Deteriorating Profitability Ratios: The net profit margin plummeted to 3.09%, and the operating profit margin also dropped sharply to 2.36%. The Return on Equity (ROE) remained very low at 2.10%. The reduction in the debt-to-equity ratio was due to the conversion of preferred shares and is not directly linked to profitability improvements.
Analyzing the Link Between Stock Price and Macroeconomic Indicators
The post-announcement stock price decline is believed to be a stronger reflection of market concerns about NewJeansOn’s poor 2024 performance rather than the KB Securities report itself. During the reporting period, fluctuations in the KRW/USD exchange rate (between 1,356 and 1,387 KRW) and crude oil prices (between $60 and $74) could have negatively impacted NewJeansOn’s profitability, but it is difficult to pinpoint these as direct causes for the stock drop. Furthermore, the rise in US Treasury yields and benchmark interest rates in the US and Europe likely contributed to the increase in financial costs.
NewJeansOn’s Future: What Should Investors Do?
While KB Securities’ major shareholding announcement might have had a short-term negative impact on the stock price, its overall influence is expected to be limited. The fundamental reason for the stock price decline lies in NewJeansOn’s weakened fundamentals. KB Securities’ declaration of a simple investment purpose could be a positive factor, but without the company presenting a credible strategy for profitability improvement, a stock price recovery is unlikely.
Therefore, investors should pay close attention to the following:
- Demand for Detailed Analysis: A detailed analysis of the specific reasons behind the increase in SG&A expenses and financial costs is crucial.
- Profitability Improvement Strategy: Investors must carefully scrutinize any concrete strategies and execution plans for profitability improvement that NewJeansOn may present.
- Macroeconomic Impact Assessment: Analyzing the correlation between raw material price fluctuations and NewJeansOn’s profitability is also important.
- Long-Term Perspective: A long-term evaluation of the impact of the liquidation of NewJeansOn Global Co., Ltd., along with a comprehensive analysis of stock price movements in conjunction with financial statements, is necessary.
In conclusion, while KB Securities’ shareholding might be a short-term event, NewJeansOn’s sustained stock price growth hinges on the company’s fundamental improvements. To regain market trust, NewJeansOn must establish and transparently disclose clear and concrete strategies for profitability enhancement.
What is the significance of KB Securities’ major shareholding report in NewJeansOn?
It signifies that KB Securities has officially disclosed its holding of 5.21% of NewJeansOn’s shares. This typically indicates increased investor interest or a significant investor’s stake acquisition in the company.
Why did NewJeansOn’s stock price fall after the KB Securities report?
The primary reason is believed to be the market’s concerns arising from NewJeansOn’s poor 2024 financial performance (high SG&A, increased financial costs, deteriorating profitability ratios) revealed in its audited financial statements, which coincided with the KB Securities report, rather than the report itself.
What are the main reasons for NewJeansOn’s deteriorating financial performance?
According to the 2024 audited financial statements, key factors include high selling, general & administrative expenses, increased financial costs due to a high-interest-rate environment, and adverse macroeconomic conditions like a rising KRW/USD exchange rate and crude oil prices.
What is the outlook for NewJeansOn’s stock price going forward?
While KB Securities’ stated simple investment purpose could be positive, a stock price recovery is unlikely without fundamental improvements by the company. The announcement and execution of the company’s profitability improvement strategies will be crucial variables.
What should investors be cautious about when investing in NewJeansOn?
Investors should carefully analyze the detailed reasons for the increase in SG&A and financial costs, scrutinize the company’s specific strategies for profitability improvement, and assess the correlation with macroeconomic indicators before making investment decisions.